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European Union reconsiders REACHing nanomaterials

Published: Wednesday 3 June 2009

According to an article published by the Meridian Institute, The Bureau of National Affairs' (BNA) Daily Environment Report and reproduced by Meridian Nanotechnology and Development News, the European Union is reconsidering the way its REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals) legislation applies to substances at the nanoscale.

The article explains that during the Helsinki Chemicals Forum, a conference organized by the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) on the 28th May 2009, it was tated that ‘[currently] nanomaterials are treated no differently under REACH than the same substance in standard form. Authorities in EU member states responsible for implementing REACH have previously said that nanomaterials can be dealt with under existing legislation, but this position was criticized by the European Parliament when it adopted a resolution in April saying that without new legislation, the EU's handling of nanomaterials would not be sufficiently precautionary.’

‘ECHA Executive Director Geert Dancet, speaking at the conference, said that special regulation of nanomaterials could be considered when the Commission produces a review of the scope of REACH, which it must do by June 2012.’ Dancet stated that ‘nanomaterials will be covered in a more systematic way’ following the review.

According to NanotechnologyLawBlog, ‘European Union (EU) Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas stated that “further work needs to be done to consider if further legislation is needed” to regulate nanomaterials. After the Forum, Dimas stated that separate legislation could be necessary to ensure to protect the environment and human health. According to Dimas, ECHA could manage nanomaterials, or EU legislation concerning fine particles could be used to regulate nanomaterials. The fine particle legislation concerns particles in air rather than in products, however, and a spokesperson for Dimas stated that the EC is “looking at all sorts of possibilities” and that specific approaches are “unexplored as yet.”’

Follow these links to read the full story on BNA (subscribers only), to read the Meridian article, or to find out more on NanotechnologyLawBlog.

 
Related Links:
The European Parliament has adopted an own-initiative report from its Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), which calls for stronger regulation of nanomaterials, including the provision of information to consumers on the use of nanomaterials in consumer products: ‘all ingredients present in the form of nanomaterials in substances, mixtures or articles should be clearly indicated in the labelling of the product (e.g. in the list of ingredients, the name of such ingredients should be followed by the word 'nano' in brackets)’. (29th April 2009)
 
The EC’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) has published its opinion on the most recent developments in the risk assessment of nanomaterials. (18th February 2009)
 
In an article entitled ‘European Union Expert Group to Debate How to Handle Nanomaterials Under REACH’,the Bureau of National Affairs' (BNA) Daily Environment Report announces a workshop of the REACH Competent Authorities Subgroup on Nanomaterials (CASG Nano), to be held on the 5th and 6th February 2009 at the Evonik plant in Rheinfelden, Germany. (30th January 2009)
 
The four trade association CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council), NIA (Nanotechnology Industries Association), Eurometaux (European Association of Metals), and IMA (Industrial Minerals Association) – Europe submitted joint comments on two documents, presented by the European Commission to the 1st Meeting of the newly-established REACH Competent Authorities subgroup on Nanomaterials (CASG Nano) (held on the 1st and 2nd July 2008). (1st September 2008)